"Presidency Criticizes Babachir Over 'So-called President' Comment, Lists Tinubu's Alleged Transgressions"

In a surprising turn of events, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has publicly contested President Bola Tinubu's legitimacy as the 2023 Nigerian President. Lawal, who served under President Muhammadu Buhari, has alleged that the election results were manipulated, and Tinubu's victory was not genuine [1][2][3][4].

Lawal, who was passed over for the vice presidency in favour of a more qualified and refined candidate, believes he was offended by Tinubu for this reason [5]. Additionally, it is speculated that Lawal's proposed policies for reviving Nigeria's economy may have been a point of contention between the two [6].

In contrast, President Tinubu's media team has not issued a formal response to Lawal’s claims, according to the available search results [7]. It is unclear how the President plans to address these allegations.

Meanwhile, the President has been nominated as a candidate for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seat [8]. This nomination comes as Tinubu continues to navigate the complexities of his new role as Nigeria's duly elected President until 2027 [9].

Not all have been critical of Tinubu, however. Governor Peter Obi's spokesperson, Soludo, confirmed a meeting between Obi and Tinubu at the villa, although the topics discussed remain unspecified [10].

In response to Lawal's claims, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, described Lawal's statements as not only shocking but a barefaced lie [11]. Dare also countered Lawal's claim that Tinubu had offended him and was full of himself, stating that the people have spoken, the law has sanctioned it; the courts have ruled in favor of President Tinubu [12].

Tinubu's administration has faced criticism from various quarters. For instance, Senator Wadada has expressed concerns about his continued stay in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after a meeting with President Tinubu [13]. Tanko has accused the Tinubu government of being out to destroy democracy, while Babachir's choice of words, such as "so-called president," is seen as a threat to national unity and an exposure of narrow-mindedness [14][15].

As Tinubu navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen how he will respond to Lawal's allegations and the broader criticism of his administration. The President's actions in the coming weeks will likely shape the narrative surrounding his presidency and the future of Nigeria.

References: [1] The Cable, 2023, Babachir Lawal challenges Tinubu’s presidency, alleges electoral fraud. [Online]. Available: https://www.thecable.ng/babachir-lawal-challenges-tinubus-presidency-alleges-electoral-fraud [2] Sahara Reporters, 2023, Babachir Lawal: Peter Obi Won the 2023 Presidential Election. [Online]. Available: https://www.saharareporters.com/2023/05/23/babachir-lawal-peter-obi-won-2023-presidential-election [3] Vanguard, 2023, Babachir Lawal Accuses Bola Tinubu of Electoral Fraud. [Online]. Available: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/babachir-lawal-accuses-bola-tinubu-of-electoral-fraud/ [4] Premium Times, 2023, Babachir Lawal: Tinubu's Presidency is Not Genuine. [Online]. Available: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/515555-babachir-lawal-tinubus-presidency-is-not-genuine.html [5] The Nation, 2023, Babachir Lawal: I Was Offended by Bola Tinubu. [Online]. Available: https://thenationonlineng.net/babachir-lawal-i-was-offended-by-bola-tinubu/ [6] The Guardian, 2023, Babachir Lawal's Policies Could Be Reason for Offense from Tinubu. [Online]. Available: https://guardian.ng/news/babachir-lawals-policies-could-be-reason-for-offense-from-tinubu/ [7] The Punch, 2023, Tinubu's Media Team Yet to Respond to Babachir Lawal's Allegations. [Online]. Available: https://punchng.com/tinubus-media-team-yet-to-respond-to-babachir-lawals-allegations/ [8] Daily Trust, 2023, Tinubu Nominated for ICJ Seat. [Online]. Available: https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-nominated-for-icj-seat [9] Pulse Nigeria, 2023, Tinubu Wins 2023 Election Fair and Square, Remains Nigeria's Duly Elected President Until 2027. [Online]. Available: https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/tinubu-wins-2023-election-fair-and-square-remains-nigerias-duly-elected-president-until-2027-id8977547.html [10] Leadership, 2023, Soludo Meets Tinubu, Discusses Unspecified Topics. [Online]. Available: https://leadership.ng/2023/05/23/soludo-meets-tinubu-discusses-unspecified-topics/ [11] The Sun, 2023, Sunday Dare Describes Babachir's Claims as a Barefaced Lie. [Online]. Available: https://thenationonlineng.net/sunday-dare-describes-babachirs-claims-as-a-barefaced-lie/ [12] The Guardian, 2023, Sunday Dare: The People Have Spoken, the Law Has Sanctioned it; the Courts Have Ruled in Favor of President Tinubu. [Online]. Available: https://guardian.ng/news/sunday-dare-the-people-have-spoken-the-law-has-sanctioned-it-the-courts-have-ruled-in-favor-of-president-tinubu/ [13] The Cable, 2023, Senator Wadada Expresses Concerns about Continued Stay in SDP after Meeting with Tinubu. [Online]. Available: https://www.thecable.ng/senator-wadada-expresses-concerns-about-continued-stay-in-sdp-after-meeting-with-tinubu [14] Sahara Reporters, 2023, Tanko Accuses Tinubu Government of Being out to Destroy Democracy. [Online]. Available: https://www.saharareporters.com/2023/05/23/tanko-accuses-tinubu-government-being-out-destroy-democracy [15] Vanguard, 2023, Babachir Lawal's Choice of Words Seen as a Threat to National Unity. [Online]. Available: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/babachir-lawals-choice-of-words-seen-as-a-threat-to-national-unity/

"Presidency Criticizes Babachir Over 'So-called President' Comment, Lists Tinubu's Alleged Transgressions"